Tobacco harvester

Abstract

A tobacco harvester includes a self-propelled vehicle frame having driven front wheels and steerable rear wheels. A pair of harvester units are positioned side-by-side on the frame and each unit includes mechanisms for harvesting a row of tobacco plants. Each unit includes a tobacco stalk gripper which conveys a stalk into a cutting blade and which cooperates with an impalement conveyor to impale a stalk onto a tobacco stalk spear positioned longitudinally of the subframe. The impalement conveyor transfers the stalks to one or more stalk conveyors which slide the stalks along the spear toward a stick loading conveyor. The stalk conveyors are operated to time the travel of the stalks between the cutter and the stick loading conveyor. The stick loading conveyor is positioned opposite a stick supplier or magazine which holds a supply of tobacco sticks. A stick positioner receives the sticks one at a time from the magazine and places them on the stick loading conveyor aligned with the stalk spear. When the required number of tobacco plants have been impaled on the tobacco stick, the stick loading conveyor pivots rearwardly to orient the loaded stick vertically. A punch mechanism forms a hole in the ground, and a stick setting mechanism transfers the loaded stick from the stick loading conveyor to the hole and releases it.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. A tobacco harvesting apparatus comprising: (a) a mobile frame;   (b) cutter means for severing the stalks of tobacco plants;   (c) impaler means for impaling said plants through their stalks onto a horizontally supported tobacco stick;   (d) stick pivot means for pivoting the plant loaded stick to a vertical orientation; and   (e) stick setter means for placing the plant loaded stick upstanding into the ground.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said stick pivot means supports said stick during the loading of plants thereon; and including:   (b) a stick magazine storing a supply of tobacco sticks; and   (c) stick positioner means transferring said sticks one at a time from said stick magazine to said stick pivot means.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said apparatus engages standing tobacco plants at a substantially constant rate for the harvesting of same; and   (b) said frame includes timing and grouping conveyor means extending between said cutter means and said stick setter means and cooperating with said impaling means and said stick pivot means to load a group of a selected number of plants onto a tobacco stick and to time the movement of subsequent plants between said cutter means and said stick pivot means to allow the pivoting and setting of a previously loaded stick with said group of plants thereon.   
     
     
       4. A stalk plant harvesting apparatus for impaling a plurality of stalk plants on a harvesting stick and comprising: (a) a mobile harvester frame means having a longitudinal axis in a direction of travel of said frame means;   (b) cutter means on said frame means for severing the stalks of standing plants to be harvested;   (c) stick support means for supporting a harvesting stick at a horizontally longitudinal orientation on said frame means;   (d) impaler means on said frame means for impaling a plurality of severed plants on said stick through the stalks thereof;   (e) stick pivot means on said harvester frame means for pivoting said stick about a lateral axis of said harvester frame means;   (f) pivot motor means connected between said frame means and said pivot means for pivoting said stick from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation in response to a selected number of plants being impaled on said stick; and   (g) stick setter means including stick setter motor means and positioned on said frame means for removing the plant loaded, vertically oriented stick from said stick pivot means and setting said stick penetratingly into the ground in an upstanding orientation.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stick setter means includes: (a) an extendible stick setter arm supported on said frame means;   (b) a stick setter arm motor operatively connected between said arm and said frame means for extending and retracting said stick setter arm;   (c) a stick setter motor operatively connected between said arm and said frame means for lowering and raising said arm; and   (d) a stick gripper hand on said arm for gripping a vertically oriented stick upon the extension of said arm and for releasing said stick subsequent to the lowering of said arm and the setting of said stick into the ground.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stick setter means includes: (a) a stick setter frame mounted on said harvester frame means for vertical movement thereon;   (b) a stick setter motor connected between said harvester frame means and said stick setter frame and operative to lower and raise said stick setter frame;   (c) a stick setter arm mounted on said stick setter frame, said arm being extendible laterally of said harvester frame means from said stick setter frame;   (d) a stick setter arm motor connected between said arm and said stick setter frame for laterally extending and retracting said arm; and   (e) a stick gripper hand on said arm for gripping said vertically oriented stick upon the extension of said arm and for releasing said stick subsequent to the lowering of said arm and the setting of said stick into the ground.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said stick setter means includes: (a) said stick setter arm being a first stick setter arm; and   (b) a second stick setter arm substantially identical to said first stick setter arm and including a respective stick gripper hand, said second arm being connected to said stick setter frame in spaced apart parallel relation to said first arm and operating in unison therewith.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stick setter means includes: (a) a pair of elongated vertical stick setter guides positioned in laterally spaced relation on said harvester frame means;   (b) a pair of elongated horizontal stick setter guides slidably mounted on said vertical guides, said horizontal guides being interconnected in vertically spaced relation and being laterally oriented;   (c) a vertical stick setter motor connected between said harvester frame means and said horizontal guides and operative to lower said horizontal guides to a stick setting level and to raise same to a stick gripping and setter storing level;   (d) a pair of stick gripper arms slidably engaged respectively with said horizontal stick setter guides;   (e) horizontal stick setter motor means connected between said horizontal guides and said stick gripper arms and operative to extend said arms to a stick gripping position, to retract said arms to a stick setting position, and to retract said arms to an arm storing position; and   (f) a pair of stick gripper hands positioned on said gripper arms and operative to grip a vertically oriented harvesting stick to remove same from said stick pivot means upon the extension of said gripper arms and to release said stick upon the lowering of said horizontal guides.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said horizontal stick setter motor means includes: (a) a first horizontal extendible ram;   (b) a second horizontal extendible ram;   (c) said first and second rams being connected in line with said first ram having one end connected to said horizontal guides and said second ram having one end connected to said stick gripper arms whereby said arms are translated between said arm storing position and said stick setting position by the operation of one of said rams and said arms are translated between said stick setting position and said stick gripping position by the operation of the other of said rams.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including: (a) hole puncher means positioned on said apparatus and operative to form a hole in the ground to receive said vertically oriented stick from said stick setter means.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including: (a) harvesting stick supply means; and   (b) an automatic stick positioner operative to receive one stick at a time from said supply means, to position said stick on said stick pivot means, and to provide support to said stick during the impaling of plants thereon.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein: (a) said stick supply means is a gravity feed stick magazine.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said automatic stick positioner includes: (a) stick positioner guide means on said harvester frame means extending laterally between said stick supply means and said stick pivot means;   (b) a stick carriage positioned on said guide means for translation thereon laterally of said harvester frame means, said carriage being operative to receive a stick from said stick supply means and to position same on said stick pivot means; and   (c) stick carriage motor means connected between said stick carriage and said harvester frame means and operable to translate said carriage along said guide means between said stick supply means and said stick pivot means.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said stick positioner includes: (a) a stick gripper rotatably mounted on said carriage;   (b) a stick gripper rotation lever extending from said gripper;   (c) a first gripper rotation lug on said harvester frame means for engagement by said lever upon said carriage approaching said stick supply means for rotation of said gripper to a stick engaging position to receive a stick from said stick supply means; and   (d) a second gripper rotation lug on said harvester frame means for engagement by said lever upon said carriage approaching said stick pivot means for rotating said gripper to a stick placing position to position said stick on said stick pivot means.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 including: (a) detent means associated with said gripper to resiliently retain said gripper in each of said stick engaging and stick placing positions.   
     
     
       16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including: (a) a stick gripper bail on said carriage for engagement with a stick on said carriage subsequent to said carriage receiving said stick from said stick supply means, said bail being released from engagement with said stick upon said stick being positioned on said stick pivot means.   
     
     
       17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said stick supply means includes: (a) a stick magazine supporting a plurality of sticks in a vertical stack, said sticks being aligned longitudinally of said harvester frame means;   (b) a stick loading trough positioned below said vertical stack, said trough being sized to receive a single stick therein;   (c) said trough having a gate on a side thereof which faces said stick pivot means, said gate being resiliently urged toward a closed position and covering a side opening in said trough which is sized to pass a single stick therethrough;   (d) said trough having an opposite side wall on an opposite side of said trough from said gate and having a bottom wall;   (e) notch means formed on said opposite wall and said bottom wall to provide clearance for said stick positioner to engage a stick in said trough through said notch means and push said stick through said gate to receive said stick on said stick positioner; and   (f) said magazine being sized to allow said vertical stack to descend by gravity to position another stick in said trough subsequent to the pushing of a stick through said gate by said stick positioner.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said stick positioner includes: (a) stick positioner guide means on said harvester frame means extending laterally between said stick supply means and said stick pivot means;   (b) a stick carriage positioned on said guide means for lateral translation thereon;   (c) stick carriage motor means connected between said stick carriage and said harvester frame means and operable to translate said carriage along said guide means between said stick supply means and said stick pivot means;   (d) a stick gripper rotatably mounted on said carriage, said gripper including pivotally mounted and resiliently extending stick gripping fingers to allow stalks of plants to be slid in impaled relation thereby on a stick gripped by said fingers;   (e) a stick gripper rotation lever extending from said gripper;   (f) a first gripper rotation lug on said harvester frame means for engagement by said lever upon said carriage approaching said stick supply means for rotation of said gripper to an upwardly inclined stick engaging position to engage a stick in said trough;   (g) said fingers being positioned in spaced apart relation to engage a stick in said trough through said notch means, said gripper being rotated to an upright stick receiving position upon said fingers engaging said stick in said trough; and   (h) a second gripper rotation lug on said harvester frame means for engagement by said lever upon said carriage approaching said stick pivot means for rotating said gripper to a substantially horizontal stick placing position to place and hold a stick on said stick pivot means.   
     
     
       19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein: (a) said magazine includes a plurality of the vertical stacks in lateral side-by-side relation;   (b) said trough includes a stick retaining panel extending therefrom toward said stick pivot means;   (c) trough guide means on said harvester frame means supports said trough and said panel; and   (d) trough motor means is connected between said trough and said harvester frame means and is operative to position said trough initially under a first stack of said vertical stacks which is farthest from said stick pivot means with said panel under the remaining stacks to support same until said first stack has been exhausted and thereafter to position said trough under the remaining stacks moving sequentially in a direction toward from said stick pivot means as each remaining stack is exhausted.   
     
     
       20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said trough motor means includes: (a) a rotary trough motor mounted on said harvester frame means, said trough motor having a trough motor shaft;   (b) a jackscrew rotatably mounted on said harvester frame means and connected to said trough motor shaft;   (c) a threaded nut connected to said trough and threaded on said jackscrew;   (d) a plurality of stack empty switches positioned respectively for engagement by the bottom stick in the associated vertical stack, interconnected with said trough motor, and operative in sequence upon the removal of the last stick of a vertical stack to cause the activation of said trough motor to move said trough to the next vertical stack; and   (e) a plurality of trough position switches positioned in respective spaced relation to each vertical stack, interconnected with said trough motor and said stack empty switches, and operative upon engagement by said trough to deactivate said trough motor to cause said trough to stop under said next vertical stack.   
     
     
       21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stick pivot means includes: (a) a stick pivot frame mounted on said harvester frame means for pivoting about a lateral axis of said frame means;   (b) a stick loading conveyor on said pivot frame, said stick loading conveyor providing support to a horizontally longitudinal stick, receiving plants from said impaler means, and loading them in spaced apart relation on a stick supported by said stick loading conveyor;   (c) a stick stop engaged by said stick to prevent axial movement of said stick during movement of stalks along said stick by said conveyor; and   (d) said pivot motor means being connected between said pivot frame and said harvester frame means for pivoting said frame to vertically orient the plant loaded stick.   
     
     
       22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said stick loading conveyor includes: (a) an endless chain trained about a pair of spaced apart sprockets;   (b) a plurality of stalk pushers spaced along said chain, each pusher having an upper finger and a lower finger for engaging a stalk on a stick supported by said conveyor above and below said stick on a run of said chain adjacent said stick, the lower fingers of the pushers on said run providing support to said stick; and   (c) a stick loading conveyor motor connected to one of said sprockets and operable to drive said conveyor.   
     
     
       23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 including: (a) harvesting stick supply means;   (b) an automatic stick positioner operative to receive one stick at a time from said stick supply means and to position said one stick on said stick loading conveyor; and   (c) said stick positioner cooperating with said stick loading conveyor to support said stick during the loading of said plants thereon by said conveyor.   
     
     
       24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mobile harvester frame means includes: (a) vehicle frame means including sets of ground engaging wheels;   (b) a vehicle motor operatively connected to a set of said ground engaging wheels to propel said vehicle frame means;   (c) a harvester subframe having the harvesting components mounted thereon; and   (d) subframe connection means adjustably connecting said subframe to said vehicle frame means for varying the height of said subframe relative to the ground.   
     
     
       25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 24 including: (a) a pair of the harvester subframes connected in side-by-side relation to said vehicle frame means for harvesting two rows of said stalk plants at a time.   
     
     
       26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cutter means includes: (a) a stalk gripper conveyor positioned on said harvester frame means and operative to grip a stalk of a standing stalk plant as said plant is approached by said apparatus, said stalk gripper conveyor having a linear speed with respect to said harvester frame means which is substantially equal to the ground speed of said harvester frame means;   (b) a rotary stalk cutter blade rotatably mounted on said cutter means, said stalk gripper conveyor conveying a stalk into said blade to sever said stalk; and   (c) cutter motor means operatively connected to said stalk gripper conveyor and said stalk cutter blade.   
     
     
       27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said blade is an upper stalk cutter blade and including: (a) a lower stalk stub cutter blade rotatably mounted on said cutter means below said stalk cutter blade, said stub cutter blade trimming the stub of a previously cut stalk to prevent interference between said stub and said apparatus passing thereover.   
     
     
       28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said impaler means includes: (a) an elongated stalk spear having a pointed front end to pierce and impale plant stalks and a harvesting stick socket at a rear end to receive an end of a harvesting stick therein in colinear relation with said spear when said stick is positioned on said stick pivot means;   (b) a plurality of retractible spear holders mounted on said harvester frame means at locations spaced along said spear, said spear holders extending to engage and support said spear longitudinally of said harvester frame means and retracting to allow a stalk to be slid along said spear therepast;   (c) a stalk sensor associated with each spear holder; said sensor being mounted on said harvester frame means, operatively connected to the associated spear holder, and causing the associated spear holder to retract upon engagement by a stalk on said spear and to extend upon the disengagement of the stalk from said sensor; and   (d) stalk conveyor means mounted on said harvester frame means along said spear; said stalk conveyor means cooperating with said cutter means, conveying said stalk into impaled relation with said pointed front end of said spear, conveying said stalk along said spear, and conveying said stalk onto said stick.   
     
     
       29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein said stalk conveyor means includes: (a) a stalk cutting and impaling first conveyor cooperating with said cutter means to sever the stalk of a standing stalk plant and conveying said stalk into impaled relation on said spear;   (b) stalk timing and grouping intermediate conveyor means receiving each impaled stalk from said first conveyor, moving the stalks along said intermediate conveyor means in timed relation, and grouping said stalks into a number of stalks to be impaled onto a stick on said stick pivot means; and   (c) a stick loading final conveyor receiving the group of stalks from said intermediate conveyor means and loading same onto a stick on said stick pivot means prior to the pivoting of the loaded stick and the setting of same into the ground.   
     
     
       30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein: (a) said final conveyor is mounted on said stick pivot means.   
     
     
       31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein: (a) said first conveyor is connected to a first conveyor motor operating at a relatively slow speed;   (b) said final conveyor is connected to a final conveyor motor operable at a relatively fast speed;   (c) said intermediate conveyor means includes a timing conveyor receiving stalks from said first conveyor and a grouping conveyor transferring said stalks from said timing conveyor to said final conveyor;   (d) a timing conveyor motor is connected to said timing conveyor and a grouping conveyor motor is connected to said grouping conveyor motor, said timing conveyor motor and said grouping conveyor motor being operable at said relatively slow speed in conveyor synchronism with said first conveyor and at said relatively fast speed in conveyor synchronism with said final conveyor;   (e) stalk conveyor control switch means positioned at selected locations along said spear and engaged by stalks upon being conveyed therealong by said stalk conveyor means;   (f) stalk counter means interconnected with said control switch means; and   (g) harvester control means interconnected with said control switch means, said stalk counter means, said timing, grouping, and final conveyor motors, said pivot motor means, and said stick setter motor means and operative to cause in a continuing repetition: (1) said timing and grouping conveyor motors to operate at said slow speed until a group of a selected number of stalks has been impaled onto said spear;   (2) said timing and grouping conveyor motors to operate at said fast speed to move said group toward said stick until the last stalk of said group has been conveyed past said timing conveyor;   (3) said grouping conveyor motor to continue operating at said fast speed until said group has been transferred to said final conveyor while said timing conveyor motor operates at said slow speed to accumulate stalks from said first conveyor on said timing conveyor;   (4) said grouping conveyor motor to operate at said slow speed upon said group of stalks being loaded onto said stick by said final conveyor; and   (5) said pivot motor means to pivot the stalk loaded stick to a vertical orientation, said stick setter means to set said loaded stick into the ground, and said pivot motor means to pivot said stick pivot means to its original orientation.     
     
     
       32. An apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein: (a) the conveyors and conveyor means of said stalk conveyor means are stalk conveyor components and are positioned along said harvester frame means from said cutter means to said stick pivot means in alternation on opposite sides of said spear from one component to the next;   (b) each conveyor component includes an endless chain trained about sprockets spaced longitudinally of said harvester frame means and turning on vertical axes, each chain including a plurality of stalk engaging finger sets spaced therealong and each finger set including an upper finger positioned above said spear and a lower finger positioned below said spear;   (c) each conveyor component laterally overlaps the next conveyor component; and   (d) the conveyor components on one side of said spear have finger sets with the fingers thereof spaced apart a distance to allow the finger sets of the conveyor components on the other side of said spear to pass therethrough to prevent mutual interference between the finger sets of laterally overlapping conveyor components.   
     
     
       33. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28 and including: (a) wide belt conveyor means in spaced relation on said harvester frame means on opposite lateral sides of said spear, said belt conveyor means including wide belt means having portions oriented in longitudinally vertical relation, said belt conveyor means operating at substantially the same conveyor speed as said stalk conveyor means and engaging leaves of said stalk plants during the conveyance thereof along said spear to prevent frictional and abrasive damage to said leaves during said conveyance.